Shattering Stereotypes, Sparking Understanding

APU’s Media and Communication students embark on a journey of understanding, examining the complexities and celebrating neurodiversity as part of the Strategic Event Planning and Management module.

Study while managing event: Students from the School of Marketing and Management (SoMM) and School of Psychological (SoP) join forces to organised ‘Beyond Barriers: Empowering Autism Awareness Talk’.

On 28th February 2024, Media and Communication students at Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) took on the challenge of dispelling misconceptions and fostering empathy for individuals on the autism spectrum.

Through the ‘Beyond Barriers: Empowering Autism Awareness Talk’, they embarked on a journey of self-discovery, guided by the passionate Ms Mishantini Sanderasagran, Founder and Director of Alrite Autism Center.

Alrite Autism Center located in Subang Jaya, Selangor is a special education school that provides services and support for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Ms Mishantini Sanderasagran, the Founder and Director of Alrite Autism Centre, has extensive expertise educating students with autism.

Ms Sanderasagran’s expertise was not just impressive, it was inspiring. Her unwavering dedication to empowering individuals with autism shone through, leaving a lasting impact on everyone in the Auditorium 3.

Her message was simple yet strong. Ultimately, “understanding and compassion are the keys to unlocking a more inclusive society.”

The talk did not end there; a team of Psychology students, Sharenya Kalidasan, Nafsan Habib, Wala Ahmed Ibrahim Ahmed Elhardalo, and Shifa Anjum, led engaging icebreakers and games that sparked meaningful conversations, dialogue, and reflections that were not only about listening but also about feelings and experiences.

The event gathered a diverse audience, including APU students, lecturers, and non-academic staff, demonstrating that recognising the unique perspectives within the autistic community is a powerful thing with a clear message: “accept diversity with open hearts and minds.”

Behind the scenes

Every detail of the event was meticulously planned by Media and Communication students, led by Project Executive To Quoc Hoa, along with Assistant Project Executive Paul Prabhakar Lourdes, Design & Marketing Executive Abdul Rafay, Resource Executive Raina Siddiqui, and Finance Executive Mizuki Sato.

Their collaboration with Project Advisor and Mentor Ms Rahilah Ahmad of the School of Marketing and Management (SoMM), ensured the event’s tremendous success.

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Among the activities held at Beyond Barriers: Empowering Autism Awareness Talk.

The event was part of a requirement for the Strategic Event Planning and Management module, which requires students to demonstrate their practical skills in planning and organising an event from start to finish.

APU Media and Communication students worked hard to make the ‘Beyond Barriers: Empowering Autism Awareness Talk’ a success, demonstrating APU’s unwavering commitment to providing a variety of enriching and distinctive learning experiences in which students put their skills to the test, a team effort fuelled by passion, and a message of acceptance that resonated loudly and clearly.